At laste, methinks, not on a night like this." He looked at Franklin calmly, and the latter rose and grasped the hand of the fearless old soldier without a word.

The two strolled out together down the street in the direction of the shanty where Curly was keeping his "prisoner." At this place they saw a few men sitting outside the door, calmly smoking--among these Sam, the liveryman, a merchant by name of Chapman, and a homesteader who was known as One-eyed Pennyman.

Inside the house, playing cards with Curly, were four other men.

Franklin noticed that they all were armed.

They all appeared, from their story, to have just dropped in to pass a little time with Curly.